International Payroll Lead

Who are we? Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It's what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities - work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering - you'll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

The International Payroll Lead sits within the HR Operations function, reporting to the Head of UK HR Operations. This role is accountable for the governance, delivery and continuous improvement of payroll operations across multiple international locations, ensuring employees are paid accurately, on time and in line with all statutory, regulatory and internal requirements. Acting as Howden's payroll subject matter expert, the role partners with HR, Finance, Reward, Tax, Legal and external providers to deliver a compliant, scalable and employee-focused payroll service.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of international payroll operations across multiple countries and outsourced payroll providers.
• Ensure payrolls are processed accurately, compliantly and in line with agreed payroll calendars, service levels and business requirements.
• Establish and maintain robust payroll governance, controls and operating standards that minimise risk and support compliance.
• Manage payroll providers to ensure service delivery, performance and accountability consistently meet business expectations.
• Oversee payroll reconciliations, reporting, funding requirements and audit activities, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Reward, Tax and Legal teams to manage legislative changes, organisational change and payroll-related risk.
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex payroll, compliance and governance matters across the organisation.
• Drive standardisation, simplification and automation across payroll processes, improving efficiency and employee experience.
• Lead payroll workstreams associated with acquisitions, integrations, organisational change and international expansion activities.
• Provide payroll insight, management information and performance reporting to support business decision-making.
• Develop, coach and support payroll team members, building capability and creating a culture of continuous improvement.
• Champion data integrity, ensuring payroll information is managed securely and in accordance with GDPR and other applicable data privacy requirements.

Who we're looking for:

• Significant experience leading international payroll operations across multiple EMEA countries within a complex organisation.
• Proven experience managing outsourced payroll providers and global payroll delivery models.
• Strong knowledge of payroll legislation, taxation, pensions, social insurance and statutory reporting requirements.
• Experience leading payroll teams and developing capability, performance and service delivery standards.
• Demonstrable experience managing payroll controls, audits, compliance frameworks and governance requirements.
• Strong stakeholder management experience, partnering effectively with HR, Finance, Reward, Tax, Legal and senior business leaders.
• Hands-on experience with Workday, CloudPay or comparable global payroll platforms.
• Experience delivering payroll-related projects, process improvements, systems enhancements or organisational change initiatives.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity - there is no one Howden type. Instead, we're looking for individuals who share the same values as us: Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new. We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges. We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Reasonable adjustments: We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working. If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it's the right fit for you, send us your application - if your profile fits the role's criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require. Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.